O.C. Sorry for the title of this chapter, I saw it as a story and well it
sort of would fit this chapter.
Deny thy father, refuse thy name
The sudden outburst from Connor had totally caught Angel off guard. Who does Connor think he is? Being alive for a year and now he knows all this stuff about the slayer and other close vampires to Angel? "Buffy wouldn't do that?" Angel seemed to be holding his temper pretty well now in days. Actually Angel hardly ever got mad in Sunnydale.
"But she did," protested Connor stepping forward, more closer. A move like this wouldn't have gone unnoticed but the anger was rising dearly in Angel.
"I don't believe you," spat an already angry dead guy. Angel felt lightheaded, never before had he realized that there is something he could hate more than Buffy's death, it proved to be Buffy's lust.
"But you should!" Declared the troubled teen. Angel's eyes must've blazed red or further more black, fore Connor began to carefully choose his words. He had seen half of the life Angel had shared with Buffy; that isn't what he wanted, further more that isn't what he can hold. All this information that happened before he was born, or rather than after his mother's death; but he didn't know that. No, of coarse he didn't, the wise demon that proclaimed to be Voldemort had never showed him the moment Angel killed his own sire. Connor knew Voldemort wasn't the demon's name, of coarse the kid was a kid so naturally he had read Harry Potter.
"How would you know?" Angel asked. Never once did he doubt his son, why should he? Connor never met Buffy, Buffy killed the monsters that he hated and Connor couldn't have made that up, further more Connor doesn't know who Spike is. Or so Angel thought.
"I got a glimpse," Connor confessed not at all thinking that Angel would believe him. But Angel had been around for more than 245 years; he's seen some mighty unnatural things.
"Is this a bad time for you? I could come back." Connor didn't exactly mean to say it, but fear was creeping up on him and it was planning to stay.
"Is this a joke?" Angel asked stepping forward as if he was going to strike out at any moment. Connor couldn't stop himself from backing up. But Angel step forth so much that he backed Connor up against a wall. "Is it?" Angel demanded rising his voice.
"Well, he did say you would get mad," Connor mumbled.
"Is it? Is this a joke? You find a better way to spike me?" Angel nearly punched the wall as he placed his hand on it, face length with Connor.
"No!" Connor immediately answered. Connor felt himself getting mad. Why get angry with this? Connor didn't know Buffy nor wished to, he didn't care for Spike and he really didn't care how mad Angry got. "If you don't believe me fine. Call Buffy if you want to." With that Connor pushed Angel's arm away, fore it was blocking his way, after that he marched right out those doors only to run into this so called Voldemort.
"He gets mad?" The demon asked as if he already knew the answer. Connor strained his neck to look up.
"Really," answered Connor. Connor didn't to be moved but the demon led Connor away from the Hyperion hotel and into yet another alley.
"You've seen how Buffy reacted to Angel, now it's time to see how the current slayer acted toward Angel. And you might find yourself liking her but keep in mind she's in jail because Angel talked her into turning her in for her crimes. Buckle up, kid." The demon snapped his fingers and they shimmered into Angel's mansion.
"Where are we?" Connor asked gazing around the unfamiliar mansion.
"This is where your father had stayed for the three years he was beside the slayer. This is known as.Angel's mansion. Alright moving on, watch the movie," the demon ordered pointing at Angel.
Angel has a fire going in an urn and several small bowls of powders in various colors on a small table. "Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum," Angel chanted.
"What's that mean?" Connor asked the demon.
"Arise, Flame of life. Come forth from your place of the elements, into this world of the living," translated the demon.
Angel shakes some green powder into his hand, throws it into the flame, which makes the flame begin to burn green. "Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum," Angel chanted once more.
Connor opened his mouth to say something but the demon interrupted him, "It means the same thing it did the first time he said it."
Angel shakes some of a red powder into his hand, throws it into the flame forcing the flame to begin to burn red. The red Living Flame burns intensely in the urn.
Angel turns around to get the glove, but stops when he sees Gwendolyn walk in. He stares at her unwaveringly.
"What do you want?" Angel asked.
"Gwen Post. Mr. Giles sent me," Gwen answered.
"What for?" Angel asked suspected her to be lying.
"To help you destroy the glove," Gwen answered. Gwen took a look at the urn and asked, "Is that the Living Flame?"
"Yes," Angel simply answered.
Gwen goes to the table by the urn. "Look, I'm sorry to be so abrupt, but Lagos is on his way here now." Gwen looks the urn over. "If you're performing the ritual incorrectly, it will only make the glove more powerful," she informed.
"Alright," Angel spat. He took a step closer to the urn.
"Good. Where is the glove?" Gwen asked glancing around.
"It's in the trunk," Angel answered. He turns around to get the glove from the trunk.
"No!" Connor shouts stepping forward. The demon grabs a hold of his arm; when Connor looks up at him he just shakes his head. Gwen grabs a shovel that's leaning against the table and swings it hard into his head. He falls to the floor unconscious.
"That's what I love about this town. Everyone's so helpful," Gwen revealed. Connor's glare burned into her.
Gwendolyn hurries over to the trunk and tries to open it. She finds it locked. She tries yanking at the old padlock, but it doesn't give. "Bugger!" She mutters. Gwen takes the shovel and jams it into the padlock a few times. The old lock breaks readily. She reaches down to removes it. Behind her Angel gets up from, the floor
She takes the shovel and jams it into the padlock a few times. The old lock breaks readily. She reaches down to remove it. Behind her Angel gets up from the floor sporting his game face.
"Okay..." He began. Gwen looks at him surprised. "That hurt," Angel confessed.
Gwen holds the shovel defensively. "It was supposed to kill you. If you'd been human, it would have. But." Gwen breaks the handle over her knee. "I believe this is your poison." She swings at Angel's midsection with her long stake, but he sidesteps her to avoid the blow. She wings back the other way, but this time aims for his face, so of coarse he ducks. She swings again, but Angel middle blocks the hit and takes the opportunity to punch her in the face. She takes the blow hard and falls down, she loses her grip on the shovel handle. Gwen scrambles onto all fours and starts to make a run for it. Angel circles around the urn with the Living Flame, grabs her by the back of the neck as she rises to her feet and pushes down on her neck to stop her then throws her against a wall. She slides to the floor nearly unconscious. Angel grabs her by the shoulder just as Faith barges in holding a long club with a steel hook embedded in the business end.
"Mrs. Post!" Exclaimed Faith. Angel lets go of Gwendolyn, growls as he faces Faith.
Faith was obviously angry; she let that get the best of her. "I can't believe how much I'm gonna kill you."
Angel was a vampire they have no fears. "You're not getting that glove," Angel informed.
"You wanna bet?" Faith asked. Before faith has a chance to attack with her club, Angel does a low in-to-out crescent kick, knocking it from her hands. Faith body checks him, but he easily absorbs the blow, taking only a slight step backward.
Gwen begins to come to, and watches the fight. Angel does a backhand swing to Faith's head, making it snap back and to the side. She whirls back around, infuriated, and delivers a backhand punch to his face followed immediately with another punch. Angel tries to return with a punch, but he swings too wide, Faith has plenty of time to duck it. Angel's follow through leaves him in an awkward position, and Faith takes immediate advantage. She bends over his right side and holds onto him for support as she kicks up backwards, hitting him in the head with a reverse snap kick. He is dazed with pain. She steps away from his side and stomps down on the back of his right knee, causing him to fall. Faith grabs Angel by the shirt and launches him into the air. He lands on one side of the couch and back rolls over the coffee table to the other section set at a right angle. He is severely stunned. Faith runs over to him, sees that he is defenseless and raises her stake.
"Damn!" Connor shouted amazed.
She swings down hard with it directly at his chest, when out of nowhere an arm reaches in and catches her swing. She looks to her side to see that it's Buffy.
"What?" Faith gasped confused. Buffy grabs her by the waist and throws her away from Angel. Connor found himself grinning at the rescue of Angel. Although he would just as much enjoyed watching Angel die as well.
"See that Connor? That is what Buffy and Angel did for each other. They saved each other from everyone else, but they could save each other from each other." The demon had a great way of talking. He could place his words perfectly, which made you think, why would a demon do that? After all most demons don't care to talk.
Buffy backed away from Faith and gained her fighting stance. "I can't let you do it, Faith," Buffy replied.
"You're confused, Twinkie," Faith revealed, her face gaining an ironic smile. "Let me clear you up." Faith threw her pointing finger at Angel. "Vampire," she declared then brought her finger back so it points to herself. "Slayer." Faith threw her finger toward Angel once more. "Dead vampire."
"There's a lot that you don't understand," protested Buffy.
"Faith." Gwen began, her voice and strength not fully back. The two slayers turned to look at her. "She doesn't know. She's blinded by love."
The two Slayers look over at her.
"Faith, no," ordered Buffy.
"Trust me," pleaded Gwen. Faith took a glance back at Buffy then back to Gwen then back to Buffy once again.
Buffy released her guard. "Faith, we can figure this out." Faith does a full spinning hook kick to Buffy's face. She takes the hit hard, falling to her knees. Faith delivers two roundhouse kicks to Buffy's gut while she's still on the floor. Buffy stands up and does an uppercut to faith's right arm, knocking the stake from her hand. Buffy backhand punches Faith in the face, then punches her in the chest. She shoves Faith backward, and Faith takes a few stumbling steps trying to regain her steadiness. Buffy does a jumping double roundhouse kick, alternating her legs, both of which are blocked by Faith. Buffy tries a backhand punch but Faith blocks it. Buffy whirls around and punches Faith in the face with her other hand, catching Faith off guard. Faith leans in again and tries to punch Buffy but she middle blocks it and punches Faith in the gut then again in the face. Faith drops to the floor, but thinks fast and tries to sweep kick Buffy's legs out from under her but Buffy jumps to avoid it. Faith scramble back to her feet and the two girls face off again. Buffy blocks two roundhouse kicks from Faith. Buffy tries a high out-to-in crescent kick, which Faith easily ducks. Faith rises back up and does a spinning back kick that hits Buffy squarely in the back, sending her to her knees. Faith rushes up behind her and grabs her in a chokehold. Buffy grabs Faith's arm and twists her body around, trying to throw Faith off, but to no avail. She grabs Faith's fingers and pulls them backward cracking her knuckles. Faith lets out a cry of pain, loosening her grip. Now Buffy is able to throw Faith off with a twist of her body, and both girls end up on the floor. Faith rolls into a wall hitting her back against a corner. Buffy scrambles to her feet and runs at Faith, but she snaps out her leg and trips Buffy, making her fall again. Buffy rolls over her back and to her knees; while she is still crouched Faith comes in for an axe kick trying to hit her on the way down. Buffy cross blocks her leg, grabs her ankle and raises her arms, throwing Faith off balance and to the floor. Faith quickly gets to her feet and the two slayers face off once again. Buffy rushes Faith and grabs her by the waist. The two of them go crashing through the French doors out into the atrium; in which Connor and the demon follow. When the glass has fallen, they both roll away from each other and to their feet, facing off a fourth time. Faith gives Buffy an angry look, spins all the way around and backhand punches Buffy in the face. Faith tries another backhand punch, which Buffy blocks. Faith punches Buffy in the gut and does another backhand punch to her face, this time connecting and forcing Buffy to her hands and knees. Faith advances on her, but Buffy does a crouching back kick to her stomach, making her stagger backward into a metal garden chair. She quickly gets up, grabs the chair and throws it at Buffy who sidesteps it, and it clangs to stonewall. Faith does a half-spinning crescent kick, which Buffy ducks, but gets hit instead with Faith's next roundhouse kick. Faith swings a punch at Buffy, but she ducks it and blocks a backhand from Faith as well. Buffy fakes a punch and instead elbows Faith in the gut. Faith ducks the next punch. Buffy pushes Faith backwards and does a half spinning hook kick to her face, almost making her lose her balance.
Meanwhile inside Xander looks up at the two slayers fighting it out. He rushes out to intercede. Willow helps Gwen to her feet. Back outside, Faith does a jumping roundhouse kick, which Buffy ducks. Xander comes rushing out of the broken doors, running through Connor in the process.
"What are you..." Xander began but sees them faced off again and gets between them. "Stop! Guys, listen!" Faith grabs him by the shirt and throws him into a lamppost.
"Hey that's uncalled for!" Shouted Connor taking a step forward. Xander bounces off of it and hits the stone walkway hard. Back at the doorway, Buffy does a diving punch, knocking Faith in the head and making her cry out in pain.
Back inside Gwen makes a beeline for the trunk with the glove. She throws the lid open and unfolds the rags wrapped around the glove. Reverently she takes the glove out of the trunk and cradles it in her hands. "Finally," Gwen nearly breathed.
Behind Gwen Willow is confused by her words and actions. As if sensing Willow's proximity, Gwen swings the glove around in a wide arc, hitting Willow in the face. She falls to the marble floor unconscious.
Back outside Faith punches, but Buffy blocks. Buffy tries to punch, bit is also blocked. Faith tries again and is blocked again. Buffy grabs onto Faith's throat, Faith reaches up to try to pry Buffy's hand from her.
Once again, back inside, Gwen holds the glove in her left hand and looks down at it. Slowly she slides her right arm into the glove. Once it's inside, she makes a fist with the clawed fingers. Suddenly the metal claws surrounding the glove's opening begin closing, poking holes into her arm one at a time until all ten have become permanently embedded in her forearm's flesh. She holds up her gloved arm and smiles maniacally at the sight, seemingly oblivious to the pain. She extends her arm above her arm above her, up toward the huge skylight and recites the Gaelic spell that will invoke the power of the glove. Connor turned and brought his attention back to Gwen. The demon followed Connor's gaze.
"Taou huogan maqachte milegaing!" Gwen chanted.
"Be mine, the power of Myhnegon!" Translated the demon, sensing that Connor couldn't understand her.
Up in the sky lightning strikes and thunder booms. Outside Buffy and Faith stop their fighting to see what's going on. Inside Gwen breathes excitedly as she waits for the power to become hers. Lightning strikes again above the skylight. Outside Buffy and Faith stare at Gwen, still holding onto each other, no yet willing to take the chance of releasing their grip. Inside Gwen stares intently up at the sky, awaiting her reward for being the new wearer of the Glove of Myhnegon. Outside the two slayers realize their fight is no longer with each other let go.
"What's going on?" Faith asked, stepping through the French doors. Gwen lowers her gloved arm and looks over at Faith.
"Faith! A word of advice: you're an idiot," Gwen stated, a maliciously smile camping in her face.
Faith and Buffy both look at her in disbelief. Gwen once again raises her arm to the sky and utters the words that will call forth the power of the glove. "Tauo freim!"
"Be free!" Translated the demon.
On the floor Willow wakes up and turns around just in time to see a blindingly bright bolt of lightning smash through the skylight and strike the glove. Shards of shattered glass fall everywhere, but Gwen ignores them and rejoices in her newfound power. She turns to face the slayers and extends the glove toward them. "Tauo freim!" She shouted. A bolt of energy leaps from the glove and to the two girls. They jumps out of the way, barely dodging it, but allowing the bolt to hit a tree in the atrium. Buffy and Faith look at it in amazement, then turn their attention to what they can do about Gwen. Angel also comes to now, and quickly takes in the situation. Willow gets to her feet and begins back away, stiff with fear, staring at Gwen in shocked horror. The former watcher spins around and aims the glove at her. "Tauo freim!"
Thinking fast, Angel jumps to his feet and rushes toward Willow. A lightning bolt shoots through the skylight, hits the glove and it redirected at Willow. Angel reaches her just in time and roughly tackles her to the floor, out of the way. The bolt hits the fireplace instead and leaves a deep scorch mark in the marble. A side, Buffy comes up with a plan.
"Can you draw her fire?" Buffy whispered fiercely to Faith.
"You bet I can," Faith whispered back with confident.
"Go do it," Buffy ordered.
Faith gets to her feet and runs into the mansion. Gwen sees her coming. Faith ducks into a hallway and keeps running. Gwen surmises that Faith will appear at the other hallway leading from the opposite end of the room and extends her arm in that direction.
"Tauo freim!" Another lightning bolt strikes the glove and is sent in the direction of the hallway just as Faith comes running out of it. She dives behind the couch, avoiding the blast from the glove. Thrilled with the power that is now hers, Gwen holds the glove up before her, staring at it with lustful desire in her eyes. "There's nothing you can do to me now," taunted Gwen.
Outside Buffy sifts through the broken glass, finds a larger shard, gets to her feet and runs into the mansion.
"I have the glove. With the glove comes the power." As if money signs shown in her eyes, she was deceived by lust.
"I'm getting that," Buffy replied, her voice stern.
Gwendolyn looks over at Buffy in surprise. Buffy throws the shard of glass end over end. It flies like a spinning blade at Gwendolyn and slices cleanly through her upper arm, severing it and the glove from her body. With nothing to control it now, the power of the glove becomes erratic, and small bolts and sparks leap from it in random directions. Another bolt of lightning strikes through the skylight, and not having a target this time, hits Gwendolyn in the chest, with a few small tendrils going in through her eyes. She screams at the top of her lungs as her body begins to writhe in pain. Everyone watches helplessly as she keeps screaming and the lightning bolts keep coming. Buffy shuts her eyes to the sight. A moment later, with one final bright lightning strike, what's left of a one-armed Gwendolyn vanishes in a bright flash of light and energy. A few small arcs of electricity are all that remain as the last of the energy dissipates, and the mansion is again in relative darkness. Buffy opens her eyes. Willow and Angel get to their feet. Outside Xander gets up also and heads inside. Faith stands up from behind the couch. All that is left in the center of the room are bits of glass and framework from the skylight, a cloud of smoke slowly rising upward and the Glove of Myhnegon with Gwendolyn's severed arm still firmly in its grip. One by one the ten claws open up, releasing it.
"Wow." Connor muttered. "Where to next?" Interest rose in his voice.
"Hyperion Hotel," answered the demon. The interest that shown in Connor's face quickly drained.
"Why?" Connor asked.
"You have to see if Angel believed you," The demon answered.
Angel hurried down the stairs and to the weapons cabinet. "What are you doing?" Gun asked.
"Going to Sunnydale," Angel replied as he loaded himself with a few stakes then released an giant ax into his open palms.
"To stake the slayer?" Gunn asked, adding together the clues.
"Not a bad idea." Angel's face was blank of all expression and his voice was dry and eerie
"You're kidding right?" Gunn asked, restraining himself from believing Angel.
"There's a vampire that needs slaying," Angel simply answered.
"Alright, cool" Gunn replied shrugging.
"Ah, no. You're going to go and kill Spike. Since Buffy slept with him I'm guessing she has something going. So you kill him and make him die and she'll get mad, at you. Just call one of the scoobies, figure this out, like a descent human being would," ordered, well more like suggested, calmly.
"Uh, Fred-" Angel began.
"He ain't human," Gunn pointed out. Fred glared at Gunn.
"You get the point," Fred snapped.
"Alright fine." Angel set all his stakes and ax onto a table. He picked up the telephone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" Came the voice, a man's voice.
"Xander?" Angel asked.
Deny thy father, refuse thy name
The sudden outburst from Connor had totally caught Angel off guard. Who does Connor think he is? Being alive for a year and now he knows all this stuff about the slayer and other close vampires to Angel? "Buffy wouldn't do that?" Angel seemed to be holding his temper pretty well now in days. Actually Angel hardly ever got mad in Sunnydale.
"But she did," protested Connor stepping forward, more closer. A move like this wouldn't have gone unnoticed but the anger was rising dearly in Angel.
"I don't believe you," spat an already angry dead guy. Angel felt lightheaded, never before had he realized that there is something he could hate more than Buffy's death, it proved to be Buffy's lust.
"But you should!" Declared the troubled teen. Angel's eyes must've blazed red or further more black, fore Connor began to carefully choose his words. He had seen half of the life Angel had shared with Buffy; that isn't what he wanted, further more that isn't what he can hold. All this information that happened before he was born, or rather than after his mother's death; but he didn't know that. No, of coarse he didn't, the wise demon that proclaimed to be Voldemort had never showed him the moment Angel killed his own sire. Connor knew Voldemort wasn't the demon's name, of coarse the kid was a kid so naturally he had read Harry Potter.
"How would you know?" Angel asked. Never once did he doubt his son, why should he? Connor never met Buffy, Buffy killed the monsters that he hated and Connor couldn't have made that up, further more Connor doesn't know who Spike is. Or so Angel thought.
"I got a glimpse," Connor confessed not at all thinking that Angel would believe him. But Angel had been around for more than 245 years; he's seen some mighty unnatural things.
"Is this a bad time for you? I could come back." Connor didn't exactly mean to say it, but fear was creeping up on him and it was planning to stay.
"Is this a joke?" Angel asked stepping forward as if he was going to strike out at any moment. Connor couldn't stop himself from backing up. But Angel step forth so much that he backed Connor up against a wall. "Is it?" Angel demanded rising his voice.
"Well, he did say you would get mad," Connor mumbled.
"Is it? Is this a joke? You find a better way to spike me?" Angel nearly punched the wall as he placed his hand on it, face length with Connor.
"No!" Connor immediately answered. Connor felt himself getting mad. Why get angry with this? Connor didn't know Buffy nor wished to, he didn't care for Spike and he really didn't care how mad Angry got. "If you don't believe me fine. Call Buffy if you want to." With that Connor pushed Angel's arm away, fore it was blocking his way, after that he marched right out those doors only to run into this so called Voldemort.
"He gets mad?" The demon asked as if he already knew the answer. Connor strained his neck to look up.
"Really," answered Connor. Connor didn't to be moved but the demon led Connor away from the Hyperion hotel and into yet another alley.
"You've seen how Buffy reacted to Angel, now it's time to see how the current slayer acted toward Angel. And you might find yourself liking her but keep in mind she's in jail because Angel talked her into turning her in for her crimes. Buckle up, kid." The demon snapped his fingers and they shimmered into Angel's mansion.
"Where are we?" Connor asked gazing around the unfamiliar mansion.
"This is where your father had stayed for the three years he was beside the slayer. This is known as.Angel's mansion. Alright moving on, watch the movie," the demon ordered pointing at Angel.
Angel has a fire going in an urn and several small bowls of powders in various colors on a small table. "Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum," Angel chanted.
"What's that mean?" Connor asked the demon.
"Arise, Flame of life. Come forth from your place of the elements, into this world of the living," translated the demon.
Angel shakes some green powder into his hand, throws it into the flame, which makes the flame begin to burn green. "Exorere, Flamma Vitae. Prodi ex loco tuo elementorum, in hunc mundum vivorum," Angel chanted once more.
Connor opened his mouth to say something but the demon interrupted him, "It means the same thing it did the first time he said it."
Angel shakes some of a red powder into his hand, throws it into the flame forcing the flame to begin to burn red. The red Living Flame burns intensely in the urn.
Angel turns around to get the glove, but stops when he sees Gwendolyn walk in. He stares at her unwaveringly.
"What do you want?" Angel asked.
"Gwen Post. Mr. Giles sent me," Gwen answered.
"What for?" Angel asked suspected her to be lying.
"To help you destroy the glove," Gwen answered. Gwen took a look at the urn and asked, "Is that the Living Flame?"
"Yes," Angel simply answered.
Gwen goes to the table by the urn. "Look, I'm sorry to be so abrupt, but Lagos is on his way here now." Gwen looks the urn over. "If you're performing the ritual incorrectly, it will only make the glove more powerful," she informed.
"Alright," Angel spat. He took a step closer to the urn.
"Good. Where is the glove?" Gwen asked glancing around.
"It's in the trunk," Angel answered. He turns around to get the glove from the trunk.
"No!" Connor shouts stepping forward. The demon grabs a hold of his arm; when Connor looks up at him he just shakes his head. Gwen grabs a shovel that's leaning against the table and swings it hard into his head. He falls to the floor unconscious.
"That's what I love about this town. Everyone's so helpful," Gwen revealed. Connor's glare burned into her.
Gwendolyn hurries over to the trunk and tries to open it. She finds it locked. She tries yanking at the old padlock, but it doesn't give. "Bugger!" She mutters. Gwen takes the shovel and jams it into the padlock a few times. The old lock breaks readily. She reaches down to removes it. Behind her Angel gets up from, the floor
She takes the shovel and jams it into the padlock a few times. The old lock breaks readily. She reaches down to remove it. Behind her Angel gets up from the floor sporting his game face.
"Okay..." He began. Gwen looks at him surprised. "That hurt," Angel confessed.
Gwen holds the shovel defensively. "It was supposed to kill you. If you'd been human, it would have. But." Gwen breaks the handle over her knee. "I believe this is your poison." She swings at Angel's midsection with her long stake, but he sidesteps her to avoid the blow. She wings back the other way, but this time aims for his face, so of coarse he ducks. She swings again, but Angel middle blocks the hit and takes the opportunity to punch her in the face. She takes the blow hard and falls down, she loses her grip on the shovel handle. Gwen scrambles onto all fours and starts to make a run for it. Angel circles around the urn with the Living Flame, grabs her by the back of the neck as she rises to her feet and pushes down on her neck to stop her then throws her against a wall. She slides to the floor nearly unconscious. Angel grabs her by the shoulder just as Faith barges in holding a long club with a steel hook embedded in the business end.
"Mrs. Post!" Exclaimed Faith. Angel lets go of Gwendolyn, growls as he faces Faith.
Faith was obviously angry; she let that get the best of her. "I can't believe how much I'm gonna kill you."
Angel was a vampire they have no fears. "You're not getting that glove," Angel informed.
"You wanna bet?" Faith asked. Before faith has a chance to attack with her club, Angel does a low in-to-out crescent kick, knocking it from her hands. Faith body checks him, but he easily absorbs the blow, taking only a slight step backward.
Gwen begins to come to, and watches the fight. Angel does a backhand swing to Faith's head, making it snap back and to the side. She whirls back around, infuriated, and delivers a backhand punch to his face followed immediately with another punch. Angel tries to return with a punch, but he swings too wide, Faith has plenty of time to duck it. Angel's follow through leaves him in an awkward position, and Faith takes immediate advantage. She bends over his right side and holds onto him for support as she kicks up backwards, hitting him in the head with a reverse snap kick. He is dazed with pain. She steps away from his side and stomps down on the back of his right knee, causing him to fall. Faith grabs Angel by the shirt and launches him into the air. He lands on one side of the couch and back rolls over the coffee table to the other section set at a right angle. He is severely stunned. Faith runs over to him, sees that he is defenseless and raises her stake.
"Damn!" Connor shouted amazed.
She swings down hard with it directly at his chest, when out of nowhere an arm reaches in and catches her swing. She looks to her side to see that it's Buffy.
"What?" Faith gasped confused. Buffy grabs her by the waist and throws her away from Angel. Connor found himself grinning at the rescue of Angel. Although he would just as much enjoyed watching Angel die as well.
"See that Connor? That is what Buffy and Angel did for each other. They saved each other from everyone else, but they could save each other from each other." The demon had a great way of talking. He could place his words perfectly, which made you think, why would a demon do that? After all most demons don't care to talk.
Buffy backed away from Faith and gained her fighting stance. "I can't let you do it, Faith," Buffy replied.
"You're confused, Twinkie," Faith revealed, her face gaining an ironic smile. "Let me clear you up." Faith threw her pointing finger at Angel. "Vampire," she declared then brought her finger back so it points to herself. "Slayer." Faith threw her finger toward Angel once more. "Dead vampire."
"There's a lot that you don't understand," protested Buffy.
"Faith." Gwen began, her voice and strength not fully back. The two slayers turned to look at her. "She doesn't know. She's blinded by love."
The two Slayers look over at her.
"Faith, no," ordered Buffy.
"Trust me," pleaded Gwen. Faith took a glance back at Buffy then back to Gwen then back to Buffy once again.
Buffy released her guard. "Faith, we can figure this out." Faith does a full spinning hook kick to Buffy's face. She takes the hit hard, falling to her knees. Faith delivers two roundhouse kicks to Buffy's gut while she's still on the floor. Buffy stands up and does an uppercut to faith's right arm, knocking the stake from her hand. Buffy backhand punches Faith in the face, then punches her in the chest. She shoves Faith backward, and Faith takes a few stumbling steps trying to regain her steadiness. Buffy does a jumping double roundhouse kick, alternating her legs, both of which are blocked by Faith. Buffy tries a backhand punch but Faith blocks it. Buffy whirls around and punches Faith in the face with her other hand, catching Faith off guard. Faith leans in again and tries to punch Buffy but she middle blocks it and punches Faith in the gut then again in the face. Faith drops to the floor, but thinks fast and tries to sweep kick Buffy's legs out from under her but Buffy jumps to avoid it. Faith scramble back to her feet and the two girls face off again. Buffy blocks two roundhouse kicks from Faith. Buffy tries a high out-to-in crescent kick, which Faith easily ducks. Faith rises back up and does a spinning back kick that hits Buffy squarely in the back, sending her to her knees. Faith rushes up behind her and grabs her in a chokehold. Buffy grabs Faith's arm and twists her body around, trying to throw Faith off, but to no avail. She grabs Faith's fingers and pulls them backward cracking her knuckles. Faith lets out a cry of pain, loosening her grip. Now Buffy is able to throw Faith off with a twist of her body, and both girls end up on the floor. Faith rolls into a wall hitting her back against a corner. Buffy scrambles to her feet and runs at Faith, but she snaps out her leg and trips Buffy, making her fall again. Buffy rolls over her back and to her knees; while she is still crouched Faith comes in for an axe kick trying to hit her on the way down. Buffy cross blocks her leg, grabs her ankle and raises her arms, throwing Faith off balance and to the floor. Faith quickly gets to her feet and the two slayers face off once again. Buffy rushes Faith and grabs her by the waist. The two of them go crashing through the French doors out into the atrium; in which Connor and the demon follow. When the glass has fallen, they both roll away from each other and to their feet, facing off a fourth time. Faith gives Buffy an angry look, spins all the way around and backhand punches Buffy in the face. Faith tries another backhand punch, which Buffy blocks. Faith punches Buffy in the gut and does another backhand punch to her face, this time connecting and forcing Buffy to her hands and knees. Faith advances on her, but Buffy does a crouching back kick to her stomach, making her stagger backward into a metal garden chair. She quickly gets up, grabs the chair and throws it at Buffy who sidesteps it, and it clangs to stonewall. Faith does a half-spinning crescent kick, which Buffy ducks, but gets hit instead with Faith's next roundhouse kick. Faith swings a punch at Buffy, but she ducks it and blocks a backhand from Faith as well. Buffy fakes a punch and instead elbows Faith in the gut. Faith ducks the next punch. Buffy pushes Faith backwards and does a half spinning hook kick to her face, almost making her lose her balance.
Meanwhile inside Xander looks up at the two slayers fighting it out. He rushes out to intercede. Willow helps Gwen to her feet. Back outside, Faith does a jumping roundhouse kick, which Buffy ducks. Xander comes rushing out of the broken doors, running through Connor in the process.
"What are you..." Xander began but sees them faced off again and gets between them. "Stop! Guys, listen!" Faith grabs him by the shirt and throws him into a lamppost.
"Hey that's uncalled for!" Shouted Connor taking a step forward. Xander bounces off of it and hits the stone walkway hard. Back at the doorway, Buffy does a diving punch, knocking Faith in the head and making her cry out in pain.
Back inside Gwen makes a beeline for the trunk with the glove. She throws the lid open and unfolds the rags wrapped around the glove. Reverently she takes the glove out of the trunk and cradles it in her hands. "Finally," Gwen nearly breathed.
Behind Gwen Willow is confused by her words and actions. As if sensing Willow's proximity, Gwen swings the glove around in a wide arc, hitting Willow in the face. She falls to the marble floor unconscious.
Back outside Faith punches, but Buffy blocks. Buffy tries to punch, bit is also blocked. Faith tries again and is blocked again. Buffy grabs onto Faith's throat, Faith reaches up to try to pry Buffy's hand from her.
Once again, back inside, Gwen holds the glove in her left hand and looks down at it. Slowly she slides her right arm into the glove. Once it's inside, she makes a fist with the clawed fingers. Suddenly the metal claws surrounding the glove's opening begin closing, poking holes into her arm one at a time until all ten have become permanently embedded in her forearm's flesh. She holds up her gloved arm and smiles maniacally at the sight, seemingly oblivious to the pain. She extends her arm above her arm above her, up toward the huge skylight and recites the Gaelic spell that will invoke the power of the glove. Connor turned and brought his attention back to Gwen. The demon followed Connor's gaze.
"Taou huogan maqachte milegaing!" Gwen chanted.
"Be mine, the power of Myhnegon!" Translated the demon, sensing that Connor couldn't understand her.
Up in the sky lightning strikes and thunder booms. Outside Buffy and Faith stop their fighting to see what's going on. Inside Gwen breathes excitedly as she waits for the power to become hers. Lightning strikes again above the skylight. Outside Buffy and Faith stare at Gwen, still holding onto each other, no yet willing to take the chance of releasing their grip. Inside Gwen stares intently up at the sky, awaiting her reward for being the new wearer of the Glove of Myhnegon. Outside the two slayers realize their fight is no longer with each other let go.
"What's going on?" Faith asked, stepping through the French doors. Gwen lowers her gloved arm and looks over at Faith.
"Faith! A word of advice: you're an idiot," Gwen stated, a maliciously smile camping in her face.
Faith and Buffy both look at her in disbelief. Gwen once again raises her arm to the sky and utters the words that will call forth the power of the glove. "Tauo freim!"
"Be free!" Translated the demon.
On the floor Willow wakes up and turns around just in time to see a blindingly bright bolt of lightning smash through the skylight and strike the glove. Shards of shattered glass fall everywhere, but Gwen ignores them and rejoices in her newfound power. She turns to face the slayers and extends the glove toward them. "Tauo freim!" She shouted. A bolt of energy leaps from the glove and to the two girls. They jumps out of the way, barely dodging it, but allowing the bolt to hit a tree in the atrium. Buffy and Faith look at it in amazement, then turn their attention to what they can do about Gwen. Angel also comes to now, and quickly takes in the situation. Willow gets to her feet and begins back away, stiff with fear, staring at Gwen in shocked horror. The former watcher spins around and aims the glove at her. "Tauo freim!"
Thinking fast, Angel jumps to his feet and rushes toward Willow. A lightning bolt shoots through the skylight, hits the glove and it redirected at Willow. Angel reaches her just in time and roughly tackles her to the floor, out of the way. The bolt hits the fireplace instead and leaves a deep scorch mark in the marble. A side, Buffy comes up with a plan.
"Can you draw her fire?" Buffy whispered fiercely to Faith.
"You bet I can," Faith whispered back with confident.
"Go do it," Buffy ordered.
Faith gets to her feet and runs into the mansion. Gwen sees her coming. Faith ducks into a hallway and keeps running. Gwen surmises that Faith will appear at the other hallway leading from the opposite end of the room and extends her arm in that direction.
"Tauo freim!" Another lightning bolt strikes the glove and is sent in the direction of the hallway just as Faith comes running out of it. She dives behind the couch, avoiding the blast from the glove. Thrilled with the power that is now hers, Gwen holds the glove up before her, staring at it with lustful desire in her eyes. "There's nothing you can do to me now," taunted Gwen.
Outside Buffy sifts through the broken glass, finds a larger shard, gets to her feet and runs into the mansion.
"I have the glove. With the glove comes the power." As if money signs shown in her eyes, she was deceived by lust.
"I'm getting that," Buffy replied, her voice stern.
Gwendolyn looks over at Buffy in surprise. Buffy throws the shard of glass end over end. It flies like a spinning blade at Gwendolyn and slices cleanly through her upper arm, severing it and the glove from her body. With nothing to control it now, the power of the glove becomes erratic, and small bolts and sparks leap from it in random directions. Another bolt of lightning strikes through the skylight, and not having a target this time, hits Gwendolyn in the chest, with a few small tendrils going in through her eyes. She screams at the top of her lungs as her body begins to writhe in pain. Everyone watches helplessly as she keeps screaming and the lightning bolts keep coming. Buffy shuts her eyes to the sight. A moment later, with one final bright lightning strike, what's left of a one-armed Gwendolyn vanishes in a bright flash of light and energy. A few small arcs of electricity are all that remain as the last of the energy dissipates, and the mansion is again in relative darkness. Buffy opens her eyes. Willow and Angel get to their feet. Outside Xander gets up also and heads inside. Faith stands up from behind the couch. All that is left in the center of the room are bits of glass and framework from the skylight, a cloud of smoke slowly rising upward and the Glove of Myhnegon with Gwendolyn's severed arm still firmly in its grip. One by one the ten claws open up, releasing it.
"Wow." Connor muttered. "Where to next?" Interest rose in his voice.
"Hyperion Hotel," answered the demon. The interest that shown in Connor's face quickly drained.
"Why?" Connor asked.
"You have to see if Angel believed you," The demon answered.
Angel hurried down the stairs and to the weapons cabinet. "What are you doing?" Gun asked.
"Going to Sunnydale," Angel replied as he loaded himself with a few stakes then released an giant ax into his open palms.
"To stake the slayer?" Gunn asked, adding together the clues.
"Not a bad idea." Angel's face was blank of all expression and his voice was dry and eerie
"You're kidding right?" Gunn asked, restraining himself from believing Angel.
"There's a vampire that needs slaying," Angel simply answered.
"Alright, cool" Gunn replied shrugging.
"Ah, no. You're going to go and kill Spike. Since Buffy slept with him I'm guessing she has something going. So you kill him and make him die and she'll get mad, at you. Just call one of the scoobies, figure this out, like a descent human being would," ordered, well more like suggested, calmly.
"Uh, Fred-" Angel began.
"He ain't human," Gunn pointed out. Fred glared at Gunn.
"You get the point," Fred snapped.
"Alright fine." Angel set all his stakes and ax onto a table. He picked up the telephone and dialed a number.
"Hello?" Came the voice, a man's voice.
"Xander?" Angel asked.